By Nardine Andrawos & Anoushka Kothari, FIA, FIAI

The Actuary’s Edge: Communicating Complex Ideas with Clarity 

Actuaries are known for their expertise in data analysis and complex modeling, but once they enter the workforce, they quickly realize that their role extends beyond technical calculations. They are often required to advise key decision-makers, meaning their ability to communicate findings effectively is just as important as their analytical skills. No matter how strong their work is, success as an actuary ultimately depends on how well they present their insights to those who rely on them. As a result, clear and effective communication becomes a vital part of their profession.

However, many actuaries overlook communication techniques, unintentionally reducing the impact of their work simply because their message isn’t easily understood. Actuarial terminology can often seem like jargon to non-technical audiences, creating barriers to clarity. The key to overcoming this challenge is understanding the audience’s background and tailoring findings in a way that is relevant and accessible. Actuaries must find clear, concise ways to explain complex concepts while removing unnecessary details to ensure their message is both accessible and actionable.

Recognizing this essential skill gap, we’ve developed a comprehensive resource to help candidates master effective communication. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new CP3 Manual for the Associate Level CP3 exam, designed for both the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFOA) and the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI). Effective communication is at the heart of actuarial work, and this manual goes beyond exam preparation—it equips actuaries with the essential techniques needed to successfully navigate their careers and make a lasting impact.

Given the unique nature of this exam, we wanted to provide you with a glimpse into the author's life to highlight what inspired her to write this book. We hope it sparks your motivation to start studying for it yourself!

Meet Ms. Anoushka Kothari FIA, FIAI – A Professional in Communication within the Actuarial Field

Ms. Anoushka Kothari earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Calcutta in India. She is a Qualified Actuary, obtaining her fellowship through the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFOA) and the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI). During her fellowship, she specialized in Life Insurance and Investment.

In her free time, she once enjoyed yoga and dancing, but other commitments have kept her from it recently. However, she’s excited to start again soon!

With four years of experience in the actuarial industry, Ms. Kothari held roles as an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young, Actuarial Analyst at Accenture, and Reserve Actuary at Chubb. Additionally, she has served as a Marker for the IFOA.

Throughout her career, Ms. Kothari has gained extensive experience in modeling and building life insurance models—such as Endowment and Term—in Excel and validating them in Prophet. She has also contributed to experience analysis, refining actuarial assumptions used in pricing to prevent losses. This process involves reviewing historical claims data and comparing actual vs. expected outcomes, such as mortality rates. Additionally, she has worked in reserving (valuation) for life insurance products.

From Numbers to Narratives: Enhancing Actuarial Communication

Driven by her passion for the actuarial field, Ms. Kothari collaborated with ACTEX Learning to help actuarial students master workplace communication techniques and thus contribute to the growth of the actuarial profession.

She views the actuarial profession as a gateway to an in-depth understanding of critical real-world domains, including insurance, risk management, accounting, financial markets, and economics, while also fostering essential soft skills. She also highlights its adaptability to emerging trends, such as climate change and AI, making it a dynamic and forward-thinking industry.

At face value, she notes, “CP3 often seems easier than other Core Practice exams, but understanding its approach can still take time.” Motivated by this, she set out to create a practical guide to help students navigate the material more efficiently.

She also emphasizes that CP3 serves as a foundation for higher-level fellowship exams, which tend to be more descriptive and less numerical—like CP3. This is particularly important for SA (Specialist Applications) and SP (Specialist Principles) subjects, where candidates must effectively communicate technical findings to diverse stakeholders.

Communication in Actuarial Work

The central idea of this exam and why it’s fundamental to actuarial work is that practicing actuaries often handle complex data and develop it into high-stakes information that must be communicated to a non-actuarial audience—the decision-makers. However, this audience usually struggles to grasp technical concepts, creating a communication gap between the actuaries and the decision-makers. The CP3 exam—and thus the manual—encourages actuaries to step back, consider their audience’s perspective, and convey information in a clear, accessible way. These could be distilled into three takeaways:

Pause, Reflect, and Communicate.

This exam aims to counteract the tendency in the workplace for individuals with similar backgrounds to communicate only with each other. A team can often consist of members from all sorts of backgrounds, and the only way to reach the team’s full potential is if they work effectively together in collaboration and harmony, which can only happen if they have healthy communication techniques.

A Word of Encouragement

When asked for advice, Ms. Kothari answered: Practice and apply what you learn. Be sure to check out the Exam Tips section in the book!

We hope this manual is a valuable resource for developing the communication skills essential for your actuarial career. We wish you success in your studies and beyond!